Demong, Spillane cruise to top finishes in France

Steamboat Springs  Billy Demong and Johnny Spillane scorched the cross-country ski course on Sunday in a World Cup Nordic combined event in Chaux-Neuve, France, on Sunday, the United States pair soaring through the field for their top finishes of the season.

Demong came in sixth, recording the day’s third-fastest ski time. Spillane was right behind in eighth, thanks to the fifth-fastest skiing time.

“We had a great weekend. We like it here,” U.S. coach Dave Jarrett said in a press release.

Italy’s Alessandro Pittin won the event, thanks in large part to recording the day’s fourth-best jump. The next 11 racers all finished within 16 seconds of one another, Demong and Spillane coming in the middle of that pack.

“Billy and Johnny were right there,” Jarrett said. “You have to be in that position to do it. It was a fight for second. The level of cross-country is quite a bit higher and it’s hard to get away — this course made it hard to get separation.”